Health System & Long Term Medical Conditions

[villecroze]

I am proposing to retire early (I am 53) and to  move to the south of France next year with my family.

 

I have a long term condition called poly-cystic kidneys which may entail me having kidney dialysis or a transplant within the next 10 years. I presently have regular prescriptions for control of blood pressure and colesterol. My 17 month old daughter also has the same condition in the early stages.

 

I therefore understand that the form E111 with give full medical cover for up to a year and that I would then require form E106 which covers up to 2.5 years - Does the E106 cover the 25 - 30 % of treatment costs.

 

I am concerned therefore as to how to cover for the full costs of medical treatment (ie recovery of the 25 - 30%) after the E111 and E106 no longer apply.

 

How do I obtain cover by the CPAM / CMU? If am am covered by these what is the annual cost of affiliation?

 

Is there an insurance top up available to me and my family.

 

I should be grateful if you would endeavour to answer these queries

[opas]

E111 is holiday cover - not for those living in France.

E106 will cover UP TO 2.5 years whilst living in France.

You realy ned to contact Newcastle for advice on the E form for you .

If you also look at the top right corner of the screen you will find a search button, you can find all sorts on the health issue  by typing in the relevant phrase ie long term medical condition.

Mrs O

[Will]

If you live in France, you need to join the French health system. E forms give a period of grace for qualifying EU citizens to enable you to get into the system. E111 is the exception - as Opas says this is for temporary stays, not permanent residents. If you are in receipt of state retirement pension or certain invalidity benefits you should get E121, which does not have an expiry date.

E forms entitle you to the same level of cover that a French resident would receive (and that includes E111) - i.e. refund of 70% of basic doctor fees, 65% or 35% of cost of medications, etc. For a few conditions you may get 100% cover.

Length of validity of E106 depends on several factors, e.g. your NI contribution record, the time of year you apply etc. Anybody applying now, for example, would probably get up to two years. As Opas says, contact Newcastle to see whether you qualify and for what E form.

E106 or similar will give you a French social security number. Whan you have that you can take out a top up insurance (or complementaire, also often erroneously called a mutuelle)

After expiry of E form you have to affiliate to an organisme conventionée, which for most people is their local CPAM. To which you affiliate, and the cost of doing so, depends on your work (if any) and your income, including pension. It is basically 8% above a certain (low) threshold, for most people of working age it will be more. Your local CPAM or URSSAF will tell you what you need to do and what documents you need to provide to prove your identity, income, marital status etc. CPAM de la Manche has a dedicated English speaking help line, other départements may offer a similar service.

[Shane]

Ring Newcastle on 0191 218 7777 and they will advise you. But as I understood it when we came here in Dec 2002 if you have a long term medical condition such as yours there is a different form to the E106 or E121 which you can apply for. However Newcastle are very good and will give you all the info you need and send you the necessary forms to complete.

[Porth]

Here may I just say that I have posted this issue elsewhere on the forum and really will  try not to duplicate matters.

However we are trying to get this 'right' and our approach is to try to integrate and whatever the system says be it income tax or whatever then thats what will happen.  We do not live a life of escapism.

My wife has suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis for over 28 years and we understand that is a european wide illness that is recognised for 100% funding.

Here there is a new drug that has revolutionised her illness and is paid for by the PCT (Primary Care Trust).  It is available in France and the manufacturer has an plant in France and says that way to obtain the drug is by referral direct to a Hospital Rheumatologists who will then prescribe six monthly treatments to be collected from the Pharmacy in the hospital. The cost is £8k pa and reflects no doubt the research that the drugs companies have undertaken.  It will come down in time.

Should we confirm firstly with Newcastle for as Will indicated due to bringing up her family and the illness my wife may not have made enough contributions.

Thus we are very concerned that we are perhaps exposing ourselves to being unable to obtain (through the system) the drug in France.

We both have occupational pensions having both retired on ill-health some three years ago with my wife being 57 years of age and myself 60.

AXA in France have already quoted us for 'insurance'.

I really would welcome some advice on this point for it is causing us considerable worry.

kind regards and best wishes to everyone during the holiday season.

 

 

[villecroze]

Thanks Porth

I hope that you resolve your issue.

I note that you say that your wife's condition can get 100% funding.

Do you know if this is the case with dialysis or kidney transplants?

Where get you get an insurance top up anyway?